EGU26 showcases AIR Centre’s Internal Waves Service for global ocean monitoring

The AIR Centre was represented at the EGU26 General Assembly, Europe's premier geosciences forum held in Vienna, Austria, and online from 3 to 8 May 2026, with a presentation highlighting its work in global ocean observation. On 7 May, Adriana Ferreira, researcher in the AIR Centre’s Data Science, Cloud Infrastructure, and Development program, presented “Internal Waves Service: Towards Systematic Global Observation of Internal Solitary Waves.” Her talk addressed a key gap in ocean science: while tidal dynamics are well documented, Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) – important drivers of ocean mixing and energy transfer – remain poorly captured in global models due to the lack of consistent observational data. To address this, Adriana Ferreira introduced the Internal Waves Service (IWS), a global and open framework for the systematic detection, mapping, and archiving of ISWs using satellite Earth observation data. The service uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from the Sentinel-1 mission in Wave Mode, enabling continuous, global monitoring beyond the geographically limited studies that have traditionally characterised ISW research. Detection relies on AI-assisted classification of SAR imagery, combined with expert validation. The result is a standardised, long-term dataset capturing the spatial and temporal variability of ISWs across ocean basins, with applications ranging from offshore operations to ocean modelling. Developed in collaboration with 27 research institutions across 14 countries, the IWS is designed as a community-driven initiative, with plans to expand sensor integration and coverage. By consolidating fragmented observations into a coordinated global resource, the IWS contributes to a more complete understanding of ocean energy dynamics and supports improved integration of internal wave processes into climate and ocean models. Through its participation in EGU26, the AIR Centre continues to contribute to the development of open, collaborative tools that strengthen global ocean observation. [PC, 8 May 2026]